Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-01-04
COMMON COUNCIL.
IMPORTANT MATTERS DISCUSSED AND
ACTED UPON.
Increase of the Police Rorce-Colored Ne
ehaHics and the City-Hall Work
Other Matters.

Present: Messrs. Bethel (president), Am
mons, Archer, Bodeker, Bryan, Connor
Cutchins, Farrar, Ferriter, Griffith, Griffin,
Guy, Hayes. Hudnall, Hughes, Jones, Kau
felt, kaufman, Kendler, Lange, Molloy
Montgomery, Murphy. Owen, Parrateri
Parrish, Pizzini, and Starke.
CONNECTING TRACKS.
The Committee on Streets recommended
that permission be granted Me:srs. A. s
Lee and Warner Moore to lay track on
Dock street to connect with the Richmond
and Danville railroad. Adopted.
EXTRA MEN IN FIRE DEPARTMENT.
The Committee on Fire Department sub.
mitied report suggesting that it be al
lowed 10 appoint an extra engine-man aud
an extra fireman and hostler for the Fire
Department. The report summed up tht
cost at 1854 per annum, and advised the
course recommended, which the com
mittee thought absolutely necessary for
the efficiency OF the service. Very
often the englne.house-men were confine1
al their posts for n month at time, and the
committee deemed IT advisable 10 a r
these men q change occasionally. Referred
IT
PAY OF CHEF.
The committee also recommended that
the Engineer OF the Fire Department should
be put on somewhat OF an equality as q
salary with the other heads OF departments,
and presented a resolution advising that
the city ordinances be so changed as to fix
the pay Of the chief at 1880 per annum.
Referred TO the Finance Committee.
TRUCK IL THE WEST END.
The committee called the attention Of the
Council to the need OF truck company In
quickly available in case OF an alarm OF fire
in the radius OF hall or three quarters OF q
mile. The truck company under the Coun.
ell chamber with its heavy apparatus can
not be drawn TO fire in the West End in
anything like a reasonable time. The
department has truck equipped
with ladders which can be used
at trifling cost, and will answer every pur'
pose. In order to organize such COM
pany the committee proposed to alter en-.
gint house No. 6 Laurel and Cumberland
streets] and put the apparatus there. Tbe
cost to make the change and support the
company for one year was stated at $3.50.
Referred 10 nance tOiDmlllee.
CLAM FOR TINE LOST.
The Committee on Claims and Salaries
returned the petition OF Samuel Riddcll, q
City-Ilall stOnemason, who claimed pay for
time lost resulting from injuries received
from stone falling on his leg. The peti'
ton was referred to the Committee on
Grounds and Buildings.
CITY-HALL WORK.
The Committee on Grounds and Build
ings reported, in answer to a series OF reso-
luIions introduced into the Council, as fol
lows: That three nonresident stone.
masons Huinq near The city limits are en-.
plOyed on the City Hall that no mechanics
thereon are allowed to make extra time ;
that the committee decided at its meeting
held November 9th last that no colored
mechanics would be allowed work on the
new City Hall.
Mr.. CUtchins moved that the report be
received and filed.
Mr.. Archer moved to lay the report on
the table, and that the opinion Of the City
Attorney be asked as to the Legality OF the
committees action in excluding a class
from work on the City-Iiall lot on account
OF color.
iect he wanted the chairman OF the Com
mittee on Grounds and Buildings to ex.
plain Why eOlored people had been d.
cIiminated against in Ihe distribution u
the City.Hall work.
Mr.. Kendler, chairman OF the commit
tee. said he could only answer the question
bv saying that he neither proposed nor sup.
ported the resolution.
"a ta1 hot hn A
toruey be asked about the matter. lie
wanted the law on the subject.
Mr.. Hayes asked Mr.. Ammons why he
had voted against it.
Mr.. Ammons said he wanted the opinion
OF the City Attorney on the subject. Then
he would say why he had voted against 1t.
Mr.. Hayes SAID he wanted to and in.
tended to find out why the negro had been
Disseminated against, and why the jew,
md the Irish, and the Dutch had not been
Disseminated against. Mr.. Hayes said be
proposed TO maze every man put himself
on record on this color question. He
wished to know who was and who was not
the friend Of the colored man. ietben con.
demned the action OF the Committee on
Grounds and Buildings, and as be pro-
ceCded Mr.. AmmOns, member OF the
committee, sprang. to his feet aud ex-
claimed:
"Mr. Chairman, | rise TO question OF
personal privilege. want the speaker to
stop that talk. He will get my personal
dander up presently, and he will have to
answer TO me IN the courts"
Mr.. Farrar moved that the whole matter
be laid on The table. Adopted.
wATCHMAN AT CITY HALL.
The same committee recommended that
the salaries Of watchmen at the City Hall
and the city stables be increased. Referred
to tue Finance Committee.
NEW HUsTINGs COURTROOM.
The same committee also recommended
that 81 ,OO0 be appropriated to fit up the
Tyler building adjoining the City Hall Tor
the Hastings Court and some OF The city
Offices.
Mr.. Bryan favored the resolution.
Mr.. Murphy opposed il. The present
courtroom had been used several years,
and he thought it could be continued in
use till the new City Hall is finished.
Mr.. Guy spoke strongly in favor OF the
proposed change.
On motion OF Mr.. Murphy, the resolution
was referred to the Finance Committee.
COMPLIANCE WITH THE LAW.
hr. Kaufman moved that the Committee
on Grounds and Buildings be requested to
state why 1t had not complied with the pro-
vision OF the law which required that
quarterly report be made 10 the Council OF
work on the City Hall. Adopted.
ADVERTISING IN GERMAN PAPERS.
The Committee on Accounts and Print.
ing reported it inexpeGient to put the city
advertising in the German papers, as the
German portion OF our population look to
the English papers for such advertisements.
Mr.. Bodeker opposed this. He hoped
either the Daily Advertiser or the Stats
Gazette would be given the advertising.
Mr.. kaufman also objected to the resolu-
tion.
Mr.. Conner moved that the resolution be
rejected, and that the advertising be
awarded TO the lowest German bidder,
Adopted.
The StdatS Gazette, being the lowest bid
der, was awarded the work. [The Board
Of Aldermen must OF course, act upon
this.l
TWO MEETINGS MONTH.
The resolution introduced by Mr..
Bethel at the last meeting and tabled,
that the Council hold two meet.
ings each month, was taken up.
Mr. Guy moved TO refer 1t to the Finance
Committee.
Mr.. Kaufman moved to lay ii on the ta-
bic Indefinitely. Adopted.
EXTRA POLICEMEN.
The ordinance adopted by the Board Of
Aldermen providing that the police force
hall consist OF chief OF police. three clp-